Checklist: Brand-Deal Negotiation Prep (do before the call)

Checklist: Brand-Deal Negotiation Prep (do before the call)

Trigger: creator replied 'interested'. Owner: whoever runs the call.

Know your three numbers.
— Target: what you want to pay.
— Ceiling: max you'll go for proven performers.
— Walk: where you stop. Write all three down before dialing.

Pre-load your trades. List concessions that cost you little but feel valuable: faster payment terms, longer content usage, a multi-post bundle discount, performance bonus tiers. Give these instead of raising the base.

Anchor first, anchor specific. Open with the structured offer ('$X fixed + Y% on tracked sales'), not a range. Ranges get read as your ceiling.

Decision rules for the call.
— If they counter above ceiling then pivot to a performance bonus, not flat cash.
— If they demand exclusivity then re-price using your card's +25%/30-day rule.
— If they won't share rough deliverable timing then no deal; you can't forecast.

Definition of done: agreed terms typed into the thread in writing before you hang up. Verbal yes is not a deal.